Mostaccioli (Italian Christmas Cookie)--Delish.com

Cookies:

• 2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup(s) unsweetened cocoa
• 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
• 1 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 3/4 cup(s) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup(s) (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup(s) whole milk

Chocolate Glaze:

• 3 tablespoon(s) unsweetened cocoa
• 1 1/4 cup(s) confectioners' sugar
• Christmas colored sprinkles
• 
  
• Directions
• 1. Prepare Cookies: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat granulated sugar with butter until blended, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Increase speed to high; beat until light and creamy. At low speed, beat in egg. Alternately beat in flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, just until combined, occasionally scraping bowl.
  2. With cocoa-dusted hands, shape dough by level tablespoons into 1-inch balls. Place balls, 2 inches apart, on ungreased large cookie sheet. Bake cookies 7 to 9 minutes or until puffed (they will look dry and slightly cracked). Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining dough.
  3. Chocolate Glaze: When cookies cool, in medium bowl, with wire whisk or fork, gradually mix cocoa with 1/4 cup boiling water until smooth. Gradually stir in confectioners' sugar and blend well. Dip top of each cookie into glaze. Place cookies on wire rack set over waxed paper to catch any drips. Immediately sprinkle cookies with decors. Allow glaze to set, about 20 minutes. Store cookies, with waxed paper between layers, in tightly covered container at room temperature up to 3 days, or in freezer up to 3 months.
     Serving size = 1 cookie

Sausage Cornbread Stuffing--Our Best Bites

9×13″ pan of cornbread (can be made a couple days ahead of time to dry out, but not necessary)
16-19 ounces sweet Italian sausage
2 medium onions, finely chopped
4 stalks celery, finely chopped
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
3/4 c. chicken broth
1/4 c. melted salted butter
Sage (2 teaspoons rubbed sage or 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh chopped sage)
Rosemary (1/2 teaspoon dry or  1 teaspoon fresh chopped rosemary leaves)
Thyme (1/2 teaspoon dry or 1 teaspoon thyme leaves stripped from the woody stems)
1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more if necessary)
Tabasco sauce to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375.

Crumble the pan of cornbread into a  very large bowl. Set aside.

Crumble the Italian sausage into a hot skillet and brown it over medium heat. Transfer the crumbled sausage to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.

If there are 2 tablespoons of rendered sausage drippings in the pan, add the chopped celery, apples, and onions. If not, add enough olive oil to have around 2 tablespoons of oil in the pan and add the chopped ingredients when the oil is hot. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent and fragrant. Remove from heat and add to the crumbled cornbread. Add the sausage and chopped herbs and toss until combined. Add the chicken broth and melted butter and toss to combine well. Season with salt and Tabasco to taste.

Press the cornbread mixture into a 9×13″ pan and bake for 30-40 minutes in the preheated oven or until the top is golden brown. Serves about 12.

Creamy Chicken Lasagna

3 chicken breasts
6 lasagna noodles
1 cube chicken bouillon
1/4 cup hot water
8oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded cheese
1 jar (26oz) spaghetti sauce (any kind will do)

Cook noodles, rinse with cold water, and set aside.

Boil chicken until cooked all the way through, then shred. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Dissolve bouillon cube in hot water. In bowl, mix chicken w/ bouillon, cream cheese, and 1 cup of cheese.

Spread 1/3 spaghetti sauce in bottom of 9 inch square pan. Lay down noodles on top of sauce, cutting noodles to the right size. Cover with half of chicken mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining sauce & sprinkle w/ cheese.

Bake 45 minutes.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
5 tablespoons butter -- melted
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
24 ounces cream cheese -- softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
15 oz canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix!!!)
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
whipped cream

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 


Make the crust by combining the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter and 1 tablespoon sugar in a medium bowl. Stir well enough to coat all of the crumbs with the butter, but not so much as
to turn the mixture into paste. Keep it crumbly. 


Press the crumbs onto the bottom and about two-thirds of the way up the sides of a springform pan. Bake the crust for 5 minutes, then set it aside until you are ready to fill it. 


In a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, and vanilla. Mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the pumpkin, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice and continue to beat until smooth and creamy. Pour the filling into the pan. 


Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the cheesecake to cool.
When the cheesecake has come to room temperature, put it into the refrigerator. When the cheesecake has chilled, remove the pan sides and slice.

Famous Mint Brownies-tastykitchen.com

FOR THE BROWNIES:

1 cup Melted Butter

½ cups Cocoa Powder

2 cups Sugar

4 whole Eggs Beaten

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

½ teaspoons Salt

1½ cup Flour

_____

FOR THE MINT FROSTING:

½ cups Butter, Softened

2 Tablespoons Milk

2 cups Powdered Sugar

1 teaspoon Peppermint Extract

5 drops Green Food Coloring

_____

FOR THE GANACHE TOPPING:

½ cups Butter

1½ cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) For the brownies, whisk together melted butter and cocoa powder. Then add sugar, beaten eggs, vanilla, and salt. Mix well and then add sifted flour. Stir in by hand. Do not over mix.

3) Pour into a 9×13 pan sprayed with cooking spray.

4) Bake at 350 degrees for 25-28 minutes. Cool for a few minutes and then place in the freezer for 20 minutes.

5) While brownies are in the freezer make the first layer of topping. Mix the mint frosting ingredients thoroughly. Evenly frost brownies and put back in the freezer for 20 minutes.

6) Make the chocolate ganache top layer. Melt the butter and chocolate and whisk together. (I melt them together in a Pyrex measuring bowl in the microwave for one minute. Be careful not to overheat. It won’t look melted but once whisked, it will.)

7) Drizzle warm chocolate over brownies and spread smooth with a spatula. Put back in the freezer for another 20 minutes.

Perfect Pie Crust

**Yields 2 pie crusts

1 cup butter flavored shortening (I use the sticks because it's easier)

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup cold water

1) Using a pastry cutter, blend shortening, flour, and salt until crumbly.

2) Add in cold water and combine using a fork. Keep combining until the dough forms a ball.

3) Divide into 2 balls.

Peach Cream Pie-AllRecipes

1 cup white sugar

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups fresh peaches - pitted, skinned, and sliced

1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch single crust pie

*1 beaten egg to baste onto crust before adding peaches

1) Line a 9 inch pie pan with crust. Beat 1 egg, and brush onto the bottom and sides of the pie crust.

2) Place peaches in the unbaked pie shell.

3) Cream together the sugar and butter. Add the egg, flour, and vanilla; mix together completely. Spread this mixture over the top of the peaches.

4) Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then 325 degrees for 40 minutes.